Neonatal weight loss in rural Zaire.

It has been reported that some African babies lose less weight during the neonatal period than their Caucasian counterparts. A prospective study of 330 newborns in rural Zaire was done to evaluate the degree of newborn weight loss and to determine what factors might be causally associated with the weight loss. Overall, the mean weight loss was 7%. Factors correlated with weight loss were asphyxia, birthweight and age at the initiation of breast feeding. The weight loss in the population studied was similar to that reported in Caucasian babies. Early initiation of breast feeding might decrease the degree of weight loss. Further studies are needed to assess the significance of weight changes in the neonatal period.